Rally For Raffy

Published April 12th, 2014

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GAINESVILLE - It was an impressive show of support for a young man who just won't be held down. A street corner rap artist who was assaulted early this week, found out who his friends really are. This rapper's simple joy overpowered any fear of violence, as he's back on the streets.

This time with the support of the community, which recognized him for his courage today. Treyvon Jenkins a 12 year-old fan said, "If I had my headphones, I would get out here and do it with him." From 4:30 to 7:30pm, Monday through Sunday you can see Rafael Torres jamming away at the intersection of NW 43rd Street and 16th Boulevard.

"Just shows that the community sticks together... It was a terrible thing that happened. Luckily there were businesses here he could get to. And we're all here to show him that we love him," KC Klapp another of Raffy's fans said.

Earlier this week, things turned ugly when police say a 33-year-old man by the name of Jerome Henderson. Confronted raffy and punched him in the face.

Bill Boe says he sees Raffy on Gainesville's streets everyday. "He's part of Gainesville. He's one of our institutions. We love him, we respect him and we're sorry this happened. There's certainly a lot more affection and love for him then there was anger and hate for him earlier in the week. This is what Gainesville is about, not what happened on Tuesday," Boe said.

Students from Fort Clarke Middle School wrote raffy a pile of letters. One letter reads, "You are the light that shines in the darkness of others despair. You represent the happiness that everyone has locked inside of them but are afraid to let it out."

Milford Griner a pastor in Jonesville recognized raffy for his act of courage and for the way he brings joy to the city of Gainesville. Pastor griner compared Raffy to Rosa Parks. While she took her stand in a city bus he says Raffy took his stand in a street corner. "He has refused to move from his street corner where he has decided he wants to spread joy and so both rosa parks act of courage and his act of courage are exactly the same," Pastor Griner said.

Raffy says he's working on writing his own music and looks up to artists such as Daddy Yankee and Pitbull.